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Message |
    
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 954
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 6:01 pm: | 
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I've been trying to determine the source of some twingy pains in my upper arm that have been intermittant for months but have become more frequent and more noticeable recently. Today I noticed that they seem possibly linked to tapping on my touchpad. (I'm a very heavy touchpad user and almost always tap rather than using the buttons ... I don't even have a "real" mouse on my home laptop computer.)
Google searching on various relevant keywords only seems to produce reviews or advertisements for Touchpads or competitive products to relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or similar ailments ... which I had brushed with a few years ago, before I converted to the Touchpad.
Does anyone know if such problems are documented anywhere? What alternatives do heavy computer users have who hate trackballs and must forego mice and touchpads? And I really don't like those little eraser thingys that some laptops have either. (My laptop doesn't have one in any case, so that wouldn't be an option without a whole new computer.) I'm trying to use my left hand at the moment and feeling VERY klutzy!
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4667
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 5:37 am: |
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Everyone I know who uses a laptop as a desk top replacement has a mouse. I find touchpads really aggrevating and on the few occasions I have used one find myself pressing really hard.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2439
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 11:00 am: |
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Best way to tell is to stop using the touch pad for a while (like a few days not just a few minutes)and see if the pains lessen or go away.
Substituting a mouse for a touch pad may not help at this point if the same muscles are involved in using both.
You might also try some warm up exercises of the affected muscles before you begin using the touch pad and taking frequent breaks to avoid constant stress on the muscles involved. |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 229
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 12:37 pm: |
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I have two laptops, one for work and one for home use, one has a touch pad and the other has a litte eraser like nob. I have never had any pain, but I also have a wrist support. Do you use one? You may not need one depending on the design of your PC.
http://www.kensington.com/html/1240.html
or just google laptop wrist support.
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Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6395
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 12:49 pm: |
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Using mouse only was becoming uncomfortable, so I now alternate between using a mouse and a pen pointer that came with my Wacom tablet. The pen is primarily meant for illustrating and Photoshop work, but it's also great for browsing the web. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 959
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 3:53 pm: |
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I guess I'll keep trying to use the left hand for awhile and see if it helps. I do have a small gel wrist rest that sits right next to the front edge of my laptop in the strategic position for "touchpadding", so I've moved it to the left to remind me to use that hand. We'll see ... |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 960
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 3:57 pm: |
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Dave,
I missed your post earlier ... now I am wondering about your pen pointer. What do you point at when not using it for the tablet? (the desk, the screen, ???)
Do you know if those devices are available separately? |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6400
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 4:50 pm: |
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Using the pen is like drawing on a mousepad. I think you need the tablet. Wacom's small tablets start out at about $200. Their older version, called the Graphwire is about $100 for small size. Other companies make them, but I forget their names. |
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